Article-Carrying device

ABSTRACT

Described is an article-carrying device including a body, a semi-permeable retainer and a base. The body has a first opening and a second opening. The semi-permeable retainer covers the second opening. The base which, when in a first position, is attached to the body and covers the retainer. When in a second position, the base is at least partially detached from the body and uncovers the retainer.

BACKGROUND

Conventional article-carrying devices are used for travel, work andrecreation. For example, an individual may store one or more articles ina conventional beachbag for a temporary trip to a beach. The articlesmay include, for example, a radio, a cooler, a bottle of suntan lotion,one or more towels, etc. Typically, when the individual leaves thebeach, sand and/or water may have accumulated in the beachbag. Thiscondition has at least three disadvantages: (1) the beachbag is heavierto carry, (2) the beachbag may take longer to clean and (3) the sandand/or water may cause damage to the articles. Furthermore, the sandand/or water in the beachbag may spill/leak while the beachbag istransported in a vehicle or while at a destination (e.g., while in ahome). Thus, there is a need for a device which would overcome thedisadvantages of the conventional article-carrying devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an article-carrying device including abody, a semi-permeable retainer and a base. The body has a first openingand a second opening. The semi-permeable retainer covers the secondopening. The base which, when in a first position, is attached to thebody and covers the retainer. When in a second position, the base is atleast partially detached from the body and uncovers the retainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a shows an exemplary embodiment of an article-carrying deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 1 b shows a further exemplary embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 aaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inner surface of the deviceof FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 a shows an exemplary embodiment of an attachment arrangementaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 b shows another exemplary embodiment of the attachmentarrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 a shows a rear view of another exemplary embodiment of anarticle-carrying pack according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 b shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the pack ofFIG. 4 a according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 c shows a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the pack ofFIG. 4 a in a first open configuration according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 d shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the pack ofFIG. 4 a in a second open configuration according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be further understood with reference to thefollowing description and the appended drawings, wherein like elementsare referred to with the same reference numerals. An exemplaryembodiment of the present invention describes an article-carrying devicewhich may allow a user thereof to release undesirable contents from thedevice while retaining the articles therein.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show the article-carrying device 10 according to thepresent invention. In one embodiment, the device 10 is a bag 15 whichmay be transported in any manner by a user thereof. For example, the bag15 may be hand-carried (e.g., a beachbag, a handbag), worn (e.g., abackpack, a waistpack) and/or slung (e.g., a messenger bag, a shoulderbag). Those of skill in the art will understand that the bag 15 mayallow for transportation in each of or any combination of the mannersdescribed herein or conventionally known. For example, the bag 15 may becapable of being both hand-carried and slung. While the presentinvention will be described with reference to the hand-carried, worn andslung embodiments, those of skill in the art will understand that afurther embodiment of the bag 15 may include a portability arrangementsuch as, for example, one or more wheels, a sled, etc.

The bag 15 includes a first portion (e.g., a body 20) and a secondportion (e.g., a base 25). In one embodiment, the body 20 has apredefined shape having a first opening 30 at a top portion and a secondopening 35 at a bottom portion. As understood by those of skill in theart, the body 20 may be composed of a first material including, but notlimited to, canvas, mesh, cloth, plastic or any combination thereof. Thefirst opening 30 provides the user of the bag 15 with access to an innerportion thereof (e.g., between the first and second openings 30, 35).For example, when the user wishes to add/remove articles (e.g., a towel,a radio, a cooler, etc.) from the bag 15, the user reaches through thefirst opening 30 into the inner portion. In another embodiment, thefirst opening 30 may be provided with a sealing arrangement (e.g., azipper, a button, a hook, a clasp, etc.) which would close at least aportion of the first opening 30. The sealing arrangement may preventarticles from becoming dislodged during transport of the bag 20. In oneembodiment, the first opening 30 is larger (e.g., larger diameter, area,etc.) than the second opening 35. In this embodiment, the first opening30 may be have a 24-inch diameter while the second opening 35 may have a16-inch diameter.

The predefined shape of the body 20 may be, for example, cylindrical,rectangular, square, etc. The body 20 may maintain the predefined shapeby utilizing one or more frame members (e.g., a band 40, an internaland/or external skeleton, etc.) which may be composed of a more rigidmaterial than the body 20. For example, the band 40 and/or the skeletonmay be attached to an inner or outer surface of the body 20. In oneembodiment, the band 40 is placed along the outer surface of the body 20a predetermined spacing (e.g., 4-inches) from the first opening 30.Thus, when the bag 20 is not being transported, it may remain in thepredefined shape. In another embodiment, the body 20 may be deformable,lacking the predefined shape. That is, the body 20 may be loose andcapable of conforming to the articles placed therein.

One or more handles 45 may be attached to the body 20. As shown in FIG.1 a, the handle 45 may extend along the outer surface of the body 20 anda predetermined distance (e.g., 12-inches) past the first opening 30allowing the user to grasp/hold and/or wear the handle 45. In a furtherembodiment, the handle 45 may be adjustable using, for example, abuckle. As noted above, the handle 45 may allow the user to hand-carry,wear or shoulder-carry the bag 20. The handle 45 or a portion thereofmay be manufactured from a same material as the body 20 and/or the band40. Thus, the handle 45 may provide additional stability to thepredefined shape of the body 20. In another embodiment, the handle 45may be formed integrally with the body 20. That is, the handle 45 may bea hole cut out of a portion of the body 20 which is preferably adjacentto the first opening 30.

The bag 20 may further include one or more external pockets 50 disposedon the outer surface of the body 20. The external pocket 50 may bedisposed anywhere on the body 20 and may have a predetermined size forholding a specific article (e.g., a cell phone, a wallet, a keychain, anotebook, etc.). Alternatively, the external pocket 50 may be largeenough for holding many articles therein. In another embodiment, theexternal pocket 50 may be disposed on the band 40 or the handle 45. Inthis embodiment, the band 40 and/or the handle 45 may have apredetermined width (e.g., 3-inches to 6.5-inches) for supporting theexternal pocket 50 thereon. As understood by those of skill in the art,the external pocket 50 may be composed of the same material as the body20 or any other material referred to herein.

In another embodiment, the bag 20 may include one or more internalpockets 60 disposed on the inner surface of the body 20, shown in FIG.2. Similar to the external pocket 50, the internal pocket 60 may have afurther predetermined size for holding a further specific article (e.g.,a water bottle, a lotion bottle, a sunscreen bottle/tube, etc.). Asunderstood by those of skill in the art, the internal pocket 60 may becomposed of the same material as the body 20 or any other materialreferred to herein. Those of skill in the art will further understandthat the internal pocket 60 and/or the external pocket 50 may beequipped with the sealing arrangement as described above.

As shown in FIG. 1 b, the second opening 35 of the body 20 may becovered by a retainer 65 attached thereto. The retainer 65 may beattached to the body 20 by, for example, stitching or adhesive, or madeintegrally therewith. In one embodiment, the retainer 65 is composed ofa second material (e.g., mesh, netting, etc.) which may retain thearticles within the body 20 while being permeable to other substances(e.g., liquids, sand, dirt, etc.). That is, if sand or dirt were togather within the bag 15, or water was to spill therein, the retainer 65would allow those substances to passthrough, while retaining thearticles therein. Although, the body 20 has been described with respectto the first material and the retainer 65 with respect to the secondmaterial, those of skill in the art will understand that the entire body20 or any portion thereof may be composed of the second material. Thatis, the entire body 20 or any portion thereof may be permeable to theother substances while retaining the articles therein.

According to the present invention, the second opening 35 and theretainer 65 may be covered by the base 25. In one embodiment, the base25 is manufactured from the first material, similar to the body 20. Itis preferred that the base 25 does not allow any of the substances whichpass through the retainer 65 to pass therethrough. For example, if aliquid spills inside the body 20, it may pass through the retainer 65,but may be prevented from reaching an external environment by the base25 when closed, as will be described below. In another embodiment, thebase 25 may be made from a rigid plastic to provide stability to the bag15 along with the frame member(s). In yet a further embodiment, the base25 may be manufactured from an elastic material. In this manner, thebase 25 may be any shape and size, but is preferably sized to fittightly around the second opening 35.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, the base 25 is in a first position (e.g., a closedposition) in which it is attached to the body 20. The base 25 may beattached to the body 20 using an attachment arrangement (e.g., one ormore zippers 70). In one embodiment, the zippers 70 travel along apredefined path on the body 20. Using a single zipper 70, the predefinedpath may be a perimeter of the body 20, whereas using two zippers 70 maycreate two paths of equal distance around the body 20. For example, ifthe second opening 35 is substantially cylindrical, the predefined pathmay be the entire circumferential distance therearound. Thus, in oneembodiment, the base 25 may be completely detached from the body 20,whereas in another embodiment, the base 25 may maintain attachmentthereto even when placed in a second position (e.g., an open position)as shown in FIG. 1 b.

In the second position, the base 25 may be partially or entirelydetached from the body 20, and thus, the retainer 65 may be exposed tothe external environment allowing the substances (e.g., sand, dirt,liquids) to pass therethrough. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 b, thebase 25 has maintained attachment to the body 20 while in the secondposition. However, as stated above, the base 25 may be completelydetached when in the second position, which may facilitate activitiessuch as, for example, washing the bag 15 after use.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show further exemplary embodiments of the attachmentarrangement according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 a,the attachment arrangement may be a plurality of hooks 100 which areattached to the base 25 and received by a plurality of holes 105 in thebody 20. In one embodiment, the hook 105 and/or the base 25 may bemanufactured from an elastic material (e.g., rubber), such that when thebase 25 is in the first position, it is stretched tightly over thesecond opening 35 (e.g., stretched state). When in the second position,the base 25 may return to a rest state. This embodiment may be usefulif, for example, the articles carried within the bag 15 are heavy andwould cause other embodiments of the attachment arrangement to fail(e.g., inadvertently release from the first position into the secondposition).

In FIG. 3 b, the attachment arrangement may be a plurality of buttons200 including a male member 205 disposed on the base 25 and a femalemember 210 disposed on the body 20, or vice-versa. Those of skill in theart will understand that further embodiments of the attachmentarrangement may be utilized by the present invention. For example, theattachment arrangement may be double-sided tape, Velcro®, magnets, etc.

In an exemplary use of the present invention, the user may place thebase 25 in the first position and fill the body 20 with the articlesprior to transport. If the user is transporting the bag 15 in a vehicle,the bag 15 may be placed in a trunk or on a cabin floor thereof. In thismanner, the base 25 may prevent leaking/spilling of liquids, foods,lotions, etc. in the body 20 through the second opening 35 thereof. At adestination (e.g., a beach), the user may place the bag 15 on a groundor any other surface. When the base 25 is in the first position, theuser may not have to be concerned that any substance on the ground willpenetrate through the base 25 ruining/spoiling/staining the articles inthe bag 15.

When the user intends to leave the destination, he/she may lift the bag15 from the surface and place the base 25 into the second position usingthe attachment arrangement 70. If any substance (e.g., liquid, sand,dirt) has been inadvertently retained within the body 20, detaching thebase 25 from the body 20 may release the substance into the externalenvironment. The base 25 may be returned to the first position fortransport.

A further exemplary embodiment of the article-carrying device 10 mayinclude a wearable pack 300 having one or more straps 305 for wearing onshoulders, around a waist, etc., as shown in FIGS. 4 a-4 d. In FIG. 4 a,the pack 300 includes a top portion 310 and a pair of side portions 315,320 which meet when the pack 300 is in a closed configuration. In thismanner, the side portions 315, 320 may temporarily attach to each otheralong a first edge of each via a first closure 325 (e.g., a zipper,Velcro®, buttons, hooks, clasps, etc.) and permanently attach to a backportion 330 of the pack 300 along a second edge of each opposite thefirst edge. The top portion 310 may temporarily attach to each of theside portion 315, 320 via a second closure 335 (e.g., Velcro®, buttons,hooks, clasps, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 4 c, the pack 300 may have a first open configurationin which the side portions 315, 320 are detached from each other at thefirst closure 325, and the top portion 310 remains closed. The firstopen configuration may expose an inner space of the pack 300 which maybe used to store articles (e.g., books, towels, radios, etc.). The sideportions 315, 320 may be equipped with one or more pockets 340 forstoring the articles, as well. Also shown in FIG. 4 c is the retainer 65and the base 25 which perform a similar function as described above withrespect to the bag 15. FIG. 4 b shows the base 25 attached to the backportion 330 of the pack 300 using any of the above-described attachmentarrangements.

In a second open configuration, as shown in FIG. 4 d, the side portions315, 320 remain attached at the first closure 325, and the top portion310 is detached therefrom via the second closure 335. The second openconfiguration may expose the inner space of the pack 300 and thearticles contained therein. Alternatively, the first open configurationmay expose the inner space which is enclosed by the side portions 315,320, while the second open configuration exposes a further inner spaceenclosed by the top portion 310. In this embodiment, the pack 300 mayhave two or more separate inner spaces. As understood by those of skillin the art, either or both of the side portions 315, 320 and/or the topportion 310 may wholly or partially detach from the pack 300.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the present invention, without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that thepresent invention cover the modifications and variations of thisinvention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

1. An article-carrying device, comprising: a body having a first openingand a second opening; a semi-permeable retainer covering the secondopening; and a base which, when in a first position, is attached to thebody covering the retainer, and when in a second position, the base isat least partially detached from the body uncovering the retainer. 2.The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is one of abeachbag, a handbag, a backpack, a waistpack, a messenger bag and ashoulder bag.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body iscomposed of a first material and the retainer is composed of a secondmaterial, the second material one of the same as and different from thefirst material.
 4. The device according to claim 4, wherein the firstmaterial is one of a canvas, a mesh, a cloth and a plastic, and thesecond material is one of a mesh and a netting.
 5. The device accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a sealing arrangement for at leastpartially sealing the first opening.
 6. The device according to claim 5,wherein the sealing arrangement is one of a zipper, a button, a hook anda clasp.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first openinghas a first diameter and the second opening has a second diameter, thesecond diameter one of the same as and different from the firstdiameter.
 8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: atleast one handle attached to the body.
 9. The device according to claim1, wherein the body further includes a handle made integrally therewith.10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: at least onepocket on the body.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein theretainer is permeable to a first substance and impermeable to a secondsubstance.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the base isimpermeable to the first substance.
 13. The device according to claim 1,further comprising: an attachment arrangement for coupling the base tothe body.
 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the attachmentarrangement is one of a zipper, a hook, a button, a double-sided tape, aVelcro and a magnet.
 15. The device according to claim 13, wherein theattachment arrangement is disposed along a predetermined portion of thebody.
 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when in the secondposition, the base is completely detached from the body.
 17. Anarticle-carrying device, comprising: a back portion; a top portionattached to the back portion; a pair of side portions attached to theback portion; a first sealing arrangement for detachably coupling thetop portion to the side portions; and a second sealing arrangement fordetachably coupling the side portions to each other; wherein, in a firstconfiguration, the top portion is detached from the side portions andthe side portions are coupled to each other, and wherein, in a secondconfiguration, the side portions are coupled to the top portion anddetached from each other.
 18. The device according to claim 17, furthercomprising: one or more straps attached to the back portion.
 19. Thedevice according to claim 17, further comprising: a bottom portionincluding an opening; a semi-permeable retainer covering the opening;and a base which, when in a first position, is attached to the bottomportion covering the retainer, and when in a second position, the baseis at least partially detached from the bottom portion uncovering theretainer.
 20. A device, comprising: a body having a first opening and asecond opening; a mesh retainer covering the second opening; and a basedetachably coupled to the body covering the retainer, the base, whendetached from the body, exposing the retainer.